The earlier, the better

In the March 8, 2024, edition of Searchlight, this column had an exposition on crafting a way to fund/ finance promising sportsmen and sportswomen with the hope of those identified, being given the best opportunities to transition from talent to stardom.

Prompting the commentary was the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines’ response to partner with the public sector to aid the preparations of Shafiqua Maloney, who has qualified for the Women’s 800m at the Paris Olympics in July/August this year.

Then, Maloney was ranked second in the world in the event, but with the nature of the sport, she has now been ranked 56th in the world and 16th in the NACAC region.

Maloney, a US based Vincentian athlete, had used the Sportsmax Zone Programme to shed light on her financial and immigration plight that were hindering her from focusing on pending global assignments.

The opinion piece then, called for a structured approach, and a system of reward for those who fall in the category worthy of such assistance.

Therefore, it was great to see that the Coreas Hazells Inc. and its subsidiaries, as well as Coreas Distribution Limited, coming to the assistance of Ms Maloney, pitching in EC$54,000.00.

Accordingly, those monies will go to Maloney’s training, travel expenses and other preparations for her journey to the Paris, France Games.

Most recently, Swiftpac and Vincy Aviation have pledged another US$ 5,000.00 to Maloney’s cause.

It is almost certain that others will chip in as they too will want to be part of the wave.

Indeed, those funds would help Maloney optimize her training regimen and ease some of the mental burdens as she focuses on her pet event.

Producing a world class athlete takes more than droplets of support that Maloney is receiving now at the age of 25.

This does not say that she was not getting forms of assistance from agencies here in St Vincent and the Grenadines while she attended school in St Kitts.

But as stated in that previous discourse, the current outpouring of resources to Maloney should not have come about when she went public and elucidated her predicament.

But the tangible contributions and the promises of intent since Maloney’s interview are appreciated. However, they are all reactionary.

As such though, they point to the reality of our situation here in St Vincent and the Grenadines relative to sports and development.

Unfortunately, too, St Vincent and the Grenadines does not have a sports culture, therefore that compulsory and structured means of providing financial help on an ongoing basis is not forthcoming.

Neither do we have a strong economy whereby such undertakings to fund athletes and their programme are done at will.

However, this does not rule out other corporate entities from having a plan to in some way, assist budding sportsmen and sportswomen.

A few years ago, the late Garth Saunders, as Manager of the Central Water and Sewage Authority,

used his goodly offices, coupled with his disposition of coming from a background of being a field athlete, to ensure that Ulanda Lewis got financial assistance during her progress as a national Under-17 sprinter.

Similarly, the said Coreas Hazells Inc. in 2016, gave former national representatives in Stanley Hinds, Genita Lewis and Guy Lowe, lifelong assistance in supplements.

Notwithstanding, there are other sporadic forms of help from some businesses who have come to the aid of athletes, all in an ad hoc manner.

The call is now for philanthropists, charities, and businesses to have as their social mandates, adoption of athletes who exhibit early potential.

And, it is opportune, given that the Inter-Primary and Inter-Secondary Athletics Championships would have concluded earlier this week, March 20 and 21, to inquire from Team Athletics SVG about budding athletes.

Hence, once identified, these organisations in unison with the national Track and Field body, should begin to provide mentorship, logistical support, supplements, gear, along with the athletes’ schooling needs.

It must be reiterated that success is not cheap, nor are there short cuts.